Extracted from Malaysiakini

And the 2008 Human Rights Award goes to...

S Pathmawathy | Dec 9, 08 6:55pm

The now-banned Hindu Right Action Force (Hindraf) and Penan activists of the Ulu Baram area in Sarawak have won Suaram's 2008 Human Rights Award.

The annual award, presented since 1999, was given to the two rights groups for their unique achievements in highlighting concerns of their communities.

The judges were Irene Xavier a former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee, Colin Nicholas of the Centre for Orang Asli Concerns, Masjaliza Hamzah of Sisters in Islam, and Suaram executive director Yap Swee Seng (extreme right in picture).

Civil society movement Hindraf was recognised for being able to "captivate, mobilise and empower vast numbers of Malaysians of Indian origin" within a short period of its existence, said Xavier.

She said the judges were "impressed by the way Hindraf contextualised the current situation by bringing in colonial history and demonstrating how, even after 50 years of Merdeka (independence), the Indian community has continued to be marginalised and disenfranchised".

"The success of Hindraf can perhaps be seen in the fear it has caused the government, to the extent that it detained five of its leaders under the ISA and outlawed the organisation."

Accepting the award, the movement’s national coordinator RS Thanenthiran (left) said it was an honour for all marginalised communities and noted that the struggle has been recognised for the first time.

"This shows that the banning of Hindraf does not make any sense because the spirit and the struggle are continuing. We the civil society... who are all fighting for human rights have shown that a lot of changes have to be made to the system," he said.

"You (the government) cannot control the people with ISA... they are now bolder and braver to tell the government that it is violating human rights."

Other nominees that were in the running for the award were the Coalition for Clean and Fair Election (Bersih), urban settlers of Kampung Berembang, the indigenous community of Kampung Chang Sungai Gepai in Bidor, Perak, and the Bar Council Human Rights Committee.

Asked why the Bar Council and Bersih did not win the award, Yap said these were organisations estabished by relatively strong groups.

"(Bersih) for instance was formed by opposition political parties which have a lot of support and resources, unlike Hindraf which is relatively scattered. There was no effective organising of the community," he told reporters.

"And when Hindraf came into being, it managed to capture the imagination of a marginalised community and empower them to confront, to assert and to claim their rights."

'Long, lonely Penan struggle'

The Penan activists won the award for having struggled for more than two decades against encroachment into land over which they claim native customary rights.

"The violations faced by the Penans are extreme and sometimes violent. They faced threats, killing, rapes, disappearance and hardship in their daily survival," noted Xavier.

"They have struggled against very powerful forces representing the collusion of political powers, business, police, military, timber companies and oil palm plantations."

She referred in particular to Long Kerong village headman and pioneer activist TK Kelesau Naan who went missing in October last year. His skeletal remains were found two months after his disappearance. It has been alleged that Kelesau was murdered by agents of loggers.

His nephew, TK Tirong Lawing (left), 60, the current headman of Long Kerong, accepted the award. Also present was Tirong’s son Nick Kelesau, 43.

Yap said the Penan won mainly because of their long and lonely struggle, especially given that media coverage of the issues had often been biased and limited.

"The kind of deprivations they face is also very serious because land means everything to the indigenous people," he said.

The award comprises a trophy, a certificate and prize money of RM1,000.

Yap explained that one objectives of the award is to give recognition to local communities and their collective endeavour to protect and promote human rights.

Suaram also launched its 2008 Human Rights Report in conjunction with the World Human Rights Day, observed on Dec 10 each year.

Some key trends highlighted in the report were the major losses suffered by the Barisan Nasional in the previous general election; abuse of police powers; discrimination; and obstacles to freedom of assembly and association.